Compositions, kits and methods for coloring fibers

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of producing a coating on an external surface of individual mammalian hair fibers, the method comprising (a) applying on the external surface of the individual fibers, an oil-in-water emulsion including an amino-silicone film forming pre-polymer, so as to form an at least partially cured amino-silicone film; and (b) applying an aqueous dispersion on said amino-silicone film, to produce an overlying, optionally pigmented, polymeric film that coats said at least partially cured amino-silicone film; wherein the aqueous dispersion contains: (i) a polymeric material having neutralized acid moieties; and optionally (ii) a plurality of pigment particles, at least partially enveloped by the polymeric material, and dispersed within said aqueous dispersion. Suitable coating or coloring compositions and kits including the same are also disclosed, as well as methods for preparing the compositions or removing films formed therewith.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating an outer surface of a mammalian hair fiber, the method comprising:
 (a) forming, on the outer surface of the mammalian hair fiber, an amino-silicone layer; and 
 (b) applying, on said amino-silicone layer, an aqueous dispersion comprising: 
 a plurality of polymeric particles, formed of a hydrophilic polymeric material having neutralized acid moieties, wherein, in each of at least a portion of said polymeric particles, said hydrophilic polymeric material envelops at least one pigment core particle, 
 said plurality of polymeric particles being dispersed within said aqueous dispersion; 
 so as to produce an overlying, pigmented polymeric layer adhering to an external surface of said amino-silicone layer. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, at a pH of said aqueous dispersion, said external surface of said amino-silicone layer has a first surface zeta potential (ζ 1 ), and said aqueous dispersion has a second zeta potential (ζ 2 ), wherein a zeta differential (Δζ) at said pH is defined as
   Δζ=ζ 1 −ζ 2  
 
 and wherein Δζ, in millivolts (mV), fulfills at least one of the following: 
 (i) Δζ is at least 10; 
 (ii) Δζ is within a range of 10 to 80; 
 (iii) for said pH being within a range of 4 to 10.5, said first surface zeta potential (ζ 1 ), is greater than zero (ζ 1 >0). 
 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous dispersion comprises a volatile base, optionally selected from the group consisting of ammonia (NH 3 ), monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and morpholine, the method further comprising volatizing said volatile base associated with said overlying, pigmented polymeric layer, so as to acidify said neutralized acid moieties. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising converting at least a portion of said hydrophilic polymeric material in said overlying, pigmented polymeric layer, into a conjugate acid thereof, said converting optionally including active or passive evaporation of a liquid carrier of said aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising converting said hydrophilic polymeric material into a conjugate acid thereof, so as to obtain a hydrophobic polymeric material, said converting optionally including active or passive evaporation of a liquid carrier of said aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material having said neutralized acid moieties comprises one or more neutralized copolymer selected from the group consisting of neutralized alkene-acrylic acid copolymer, neutralized alkene-methacrylic acid copolymer and neutralized acrylamide/acrylate copolymer. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said neutralized alkene-acrylic acid copolymer is neutralized ethylene-acrylic acid (EAA) copolymer. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said neutralized alkene-methacrylic acid copolymer is neutralized ethylene-methacrylic acid (EMAA) copolymer. 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material having said neutralized acid moieties is neutralized acrylamide/acrylate (AAA) copolymer. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said overlying, pigmented polymeric layer is a hydrophobic polymeric coating. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, at a pH within a range of 7.5 to 11, said hydrophilic polymeric material is self-dispersible in water, in an absence of dispersants and all other additives in water. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic polymeric material is thermoplastic. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic polymeric material has a solubility of at least 2%, by weight, at a pH of 10. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said overlying, pigmented polymeric layer washed with a cationic rinsing liquid. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said forming includes:
 (a) applying, on an external surface of individual hairs of the mammalian hair, an oil-in-water emulsion comprising: 
 (A) an aqueous phase containing water; and 
 (B) an oil phase comprising at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer that, subsequent to condensation curing, forms an elastomer; 
 wherein said oil phase fulfills at least one of the following: 
 (i) said at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer includes at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone monomer having a molecular weight of at most 1000 g/mole; 
 (ii) said oil phase further contains a non-amino cross-linking agent adapted or selected to cure said pre-polymer, said non-amino cross-linking agent having a molecular weight in the range of at most 1000 g/mole; 
 wherein said at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer has a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 23° C.; 
 (b) after partial condensation curing of said pre-polymer has occurred so as to form an at least partially cured film on the external surface of the individual hairs, washing the hair with a rinsing liquid to remove any excess of said oil-in-water emulsion. 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15 , said oil-in-water emulsion further comprising a solid, hydrophobic reactive inorganic filler, said filler disposed or dispersed within said oil phase, said filler selected or adapted to facilitate curing of said condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer comprises a reactive condensation-curable amino-silicone monomer having a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 25° C. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 15 , said oil phase further comprising a pigment, optionally as a plurality of sub-micronic pigment particles, optionally in presence of a dispersant. 
     
     
       19. A kit for producing an at least two-layer coating on an external surface of mammalian hair, the kit comprising:
 (a) a first oil phase compartment comprising a first oil phase comprising: 
 (i) at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone monomer having a molecular weight of at most 1000 g/mole; and optionally, 
 (ii) a non-amino cross-linking agent; and further optionally, 
 (iii) at least one of an amino-silicone oil and/or a non-amino-silicone oil; and further optionally, 
 (iv) at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer comprising at least one of a reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone polymer and/or a reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone oligomer; 
 (b) an aqueous dispersion compartment comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising: 
 (i) an aqueous medium; and 
 (ii) sub-micronic particles including, or made of, a hydrophilic polymeric material having neutralized acid moieties, disposed within said aqueous medium, each of at least a portion of said sub-micronic particles optionally comprising at least one pigment particle, said at least one pigment particle optionally being at least partially enveloped by said polymeric material; 
 (c) an optional second oil phase compartment comprising a second oil phase comprising: 
 (i) at least one of an amino-silicone oil and/or a non-amino-silicone oil, and optionally, 
 (ii) a solid, hydrophobic reactive inorganic filler; and further optionally, 
 (iii) said at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer including at least one of a reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone polymer and/or a reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone oligomer; and 
 further optionally, 
 (iv) pigment particles, disposed within said second oil phase; and 
 (d) an optional metallic pigment compartment comprising at least one metallic pigment, and optionally, an aqueous, organic or oil carrier; 
 wherein the kit further optionally comprises at least one of: a thickening agent, an emulsifier, a surfactant and/or a dispersant. 
 
     
     
       20. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the thickening agent is contained in at least one of: I) said aqueous dispersion compartment, or II) a dedicated thickening agent compartment, which may optionally comprise at least one of water, an emulsifier, a surfactant and/or a dispersant. 
     
     
       21. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein said hydrophilic polymeric material having neutralized acid moieties is selected from an alkene-acrylic acid copolymer, an alkene-methacrylic acid copolymer or an acrylate/acrylamide copolymer. 
     
     
       22. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein said first oil phase compartment further comprises at least one of an amino-silicone oil or a non-amino-silicone oil. 
     
     
       23. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein said first oil phase compartment further comprises at least one of an amino-silicone oil or a non-amino-silicone oil; and wherein the kit further comprises:
 the second oil phase compartment including: 
 (i) at least one of said amino-silicone oil or said non-amino-silicone oil, and 
 (ii) a solid, hydrophobic reactive inorganic filler; and
 a thickening agent compartment including a thickening agent, and optionally water and/or an emulsifier. 
 
 
     
     
       24. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein said first oil phase compartment further includes:
 (i) at least one of an amino-silicone oil or a non-amino-silicone oil, 
 (ii) at least one metallic pigment; and optionally 
 (iii) a dispersant within the first oil phase compartment; and
 wherein the kit optionally further comprises a thickening agent compartment including a thickening agent and an emulsifier. 
 
 
     
     
       25. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein said first oil phase compartment further includes at least one of an amino-silicone oil or a non-amino-silicone oil;
 wherein the aqueous dispersion compartment optionally further includes a thickening agent; and 
 wherein the kit further comprises the metallic pigment compartment including: 
 (i) at least one metallic pigment; and 
 
       a surfactant.